Cotton-chopper



(No Model.)

L. M. POOLE. `.GOTTON OHOPPEB..

No. 461,931. Patented Oct. 27, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER M. POOLE, OF LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No, 461,931, dated October27'. 1891.

, Application tiled June 23, 1891.V Serial No. 397,199. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER M. POOLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Liberty Hill, in the county of lVilliamson and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCotton-Choppers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incotton-choppers; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide animproved device of this class which shall be simple, cheap, durable, andefficient, composed ot but few parts, and those readily as.

sembled and not liable to get out of order. I provide a frame in whichis journaled the shaft carrying the cutting-wheel, which derives itsmotion through connection with the traction-wheels, the said shaft beingarranged at an angle to the line of travel of the machine and connectedby knuckle or swivel joint with a shaft comprising a part of the drivingmechanism. The cutting-Wheel is of novel construction, being light, yetstrong, and traveling in a plane at about an angle of forty-five degreesto the line of travel of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will .hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecificatioinand in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of acottonchopper constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is atop plan of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in both of the views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates theframe, which may be of any suitable construction, and in which insuitable bearings is designed to be journaled the front axle, (notshown,) carrying the front wheels, (not shown,) which may be of`anysuitable construction.

As the novelty in my present invention resides solely in theconstruction to the rear of the front wheels I have chosen to show onlysuch parts..

The chopper may be drawn in any suitable manner. The rear axle B is journaled in suitable boxes cl., which are vertically adjustable on theside bars of the frame, as seen in Fig. l, being providedfwith verticalslot I) and setscrew or bolt c, so that the same may be raised orlowered to make the chopper-wheel cut more or less deep, as may bedesired. This rear axle carries the wheels C and also a sprocket-wheelC, inside the frame preferably, and over which passes the sprocketechainD, which passes over the sprocket-wheel E, carried by a short shaft d,parallel-with the rear axle and journaled in suitable boxes e on theside bai-of the frame and on the longitudinal timber or brace f, whichat its forward end is secured to the diagonal timber or brace F, whichis secured to the side bars of the frame, as seen in Fig. 2.

G is a shaft arranged at an angle of about forty-live degrees to theside bars of the frame and journaled at one end in a suitable box g onone of the side bars and at the other end in a box h on the inclined ordiagonal timber or brace F, as seen in Fig. 2, the adjacent ends of theshafts d and G being connected together by a knuckle or swivel joint t',as seen in Fig. 2.

On the shaft Gris the chopper-wheel, which consists of a suitable hub j,from which extend the radial arms Il, arranged in pairs, as seen in Fig.1, and to the outer ends of the arms of each pair are secured the knivesI, which are of the requisite width and thickness for the work designedto be done and are curved to the shape of the circumference of saidwheel, the cutting-edge standing a little farther from the center thanthe back edge I of the knife, so as to give clearance to the knife whilein the act of striking the cotton. Any desired number of knives may beemployed; but I prefer four, as shown. There is a space 7c left betweeneach two knives, as seen clearly in both views, so that the knives willcut a requisite length of the row and leave a space not chopped ortouched on account of the said spaces between the knives. The knife-armsare braced by the straps or rods L, which are arranged circumferentiallybetween the hub and knives, as seen-in Fig. 1, being preferably a ringwith apertures for IOO the passage of the knife-arms, as shown, so as tohold them at the regulated distance apart and prevent bending thereofduring` the operation of the machine.

The operation Will .be readily understood from the foregoingdescriptionwhen taken in connection with the annexed drawings, and adetailed description thereof is not deemed necessary.

Vhat I claim as new isl. The cotton-chopper described, consisting of theframe, diagonal brace F, the bearing thereon, the bearing at one cornerof the frame, the diagonal shaft journaled in said bearings, thechopper-Wheel on said shaft, the shaft d, having knuckleeonneeton withthe inner end of said shaft, the sprocket-Wheel on said shaft d, therear axle, the sprocketwheel thereon, and the sprocket-chain connectingsaid Wheels, and adj nstable bearings for the said axle, substantiallyas specified.

2. In a cotton-chopper, the chopper-Wheel consisting of a hub andknife-arms and having` openings through which the said arms pass,extending radially therefrom, curved knives at the outer ends of saidarms, with a space between each tWo knives, and the brace-ringconnecting the said arms, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses. i

LUTHER M. POOLE.

Vitnesses:

J No. HUDSON, J. K. LANE.

